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/a/ is the most basic vowel in any human language.
HOWEVER, American English also uses /a/ when a word has only one “o”!
/a/ typically occurs in a “closed syllable”: V + C + C + V or C + V + C
shop (shopping)
doll
knock
pottery
BUT “modern” (there are some exceptions!)
/æ/ is also called “ash,” and it is very common in English words with only
HOWEVER, American English and British English often differ in pronunciation
British English uses /a/ in words such as "grass" and "past," while American English uses /æ/ for these words.
Believe it or not, the American sound is older! British English changed and made more innovations than American English.
This follows a well-established pattern of the "home turf" of a language changing, while the "colonies" or "offshoots" of the language remain more conservative.
Step 1. Let’s compare these sounds back to back:
1. mapmop4. hathot
2. blandblond5. padpod (iPod)
3. valleyvolley6. Chopinshopping
Step 2. Now let’s read some sentences with /a/ sounds:
1. The stocks dropped to rock bottom.
2. I’ve got a lot of lollipops.
3. It’s a logical consequence of modern technology.
Step 3. Now let’s read some sentences with /æ/ sounds:
1. I haven’t had a chance to thank you.
2. Allan laughed at the tap dancer.
3. We had to have the past facts fast.
Step 4. Finally, let’s try some sentences with both /a/ and /æ/
1. Her pots have odd brass and copper handles.
2. Johnson hasn’t commented on that contract.
3. Put the jack-in-the-box and the alphabet blocks back in the closet.
Extra challenge! Have you heard of the famous children’s book, “The cat in the Hat”?
The fat cat sat on the hot hat, now the hot hat’s flat as a bath mat.
In British English, the words "on" and "hot" have an "o" sound, while in American English the words are pronounced /an/ and /hat/. (In some parts of America, particularly the East Coast, "on" sounds more like "awn.")
In British English, the word "bath" has an "a" sound, while in American English, the word is pronounced /bæth/.
All other words sound the same.
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